"Lucas... let’s break up."

Jessica Lynn sat across from him, her expression unreadable, her tone flat and detached, as though she were discussing something insignificant rather than ending a three-year relationship.

Her beautiful face remained calm.

Too calm.

Lucas Gray froze.

For a brief moment, the world around him seemed to fall into silence. The chatter in the café blurred into meaningless noise, the clinking of glasses faded into the distance, and even the air suddenly felt heavier.

His mind went blank.

A few minutes ago, he had been smiling to himself, imagining the future.

Graduation was only two months away.

He had thought they would finally begin building a life together, nothing luxurious, nothing grand. Just a modest apartment, steady jobs, simple meals, and quiet happiness.

As long as they were together, he believed they could make it work.

But now...

Break up?

The words didn’t feel real.

Lucas forced a stiff laugh, trying desperately to shake off the strange feeling creeping into his chest.

"Jessica... you’re joking, right?"

His lips curled awkwardly.

"You almost gave me a heart attack."

His voice carried disbelief, fragile and uncertain, like someone clinging to the last thread of hope.

But Jessica didn’t smile.

Didn’t even blink.

Instead, she leaned back slightly in her chair and crossed her arms.

"Lucas, you know I can’t go back to that small county town with you."

Her tone was matter-of-fact.

Cold.

Practical.

"Of course..." she continued, pausing briefly as though considering his worth, "if your parents can buy a house in Silvermont outright and put only my name on the deed..."

Lucas’s fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the table.

"...buy a car worth at least one hundred thousand dollars..."

His breathing grew uneven.

"...and guarantee that your parents will never live with us after marriage..."

Jessica finally looked directly into his eyes.

"Then you can treat what I said just now as a joke."

Silence.

Every word landed like a hammer strike against Lucas’s chest.

His forced smile slowly faded.

The warmth he had carried only moments ago disappeared, replaced by something cold and suffocating.

He stared at her as though seeing a stranger.

"I’m my parents’ only son."

His voice was quiet, but it trembled faintly.

"How the fuck would I abandon them?"

He swallowed hard before continuing.

"And you know my family’s situation."

His fingers loosened from the table and fell limply to his side.

"My parents own a local restaurant. How could they possibly afford a house in Silvermont?"

He wasn’t shouting.

Not yet.

But the hurt in his voice was impossible to hide.

Three years.

Three whole years. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Like scenes from an old film, memories surfaced uncontrollably in his mind.

Skipping meals just to save money.

Eating steamed buns for days.

Cheap vegetables.

Instant noodles.

Wearing worn-out clothes for semesters because replacing them felt wasteful.

While other students enjoyed college life, spent money freely, and chased excitement, he worked.

Part-time shifts.

Late nights.

Weekend jobs.

Anything he could find.

And almost every cent he earned...

Went to Jessica.

Her handbags.

Her cosmetics.

Her expensive dinners.

Her shopping trips.

Whenever she casually mentioned wanting something, he would quietly save for weeks just to buy it.

He had convinced himself it was worth it.

Because he loved her.

Because he believed sacrifice meant commitment.

Because he thought they were building something together.

Yet now...

The woman sitting before him looked at him with cold calculation, as though all those years meant nothing at all.

Something inside Lucas cracked.

A sharp ache spread through his chest.

He could no longer suppress the emotions clawing their way out.

"Jessica... why?"

His voice rose unconsciously.

"You know perfectly well there’s no way I can meet those conditions!"

The frustration and heartbreak he had been holding back finally spilled into the open.

Nearby customers turned their heads.

A few whispered.

But Lucas no longer cared.

At that moment, all he could see was Jessica.

And all he wanted was an answer.

Yet Jessica remained completely unmoved.

No guilt.

No hesitation.

If anything, her expression turned even colder.

"Why?"

Jessica let out a faint scoff, crossing her arms as though his question itself sounded naïve.

"Your family is still renting a house in that county town, aren’t they?"

Her gaze swept over him, sharp and unyielding.

"You don’t seriously expect me to follow you back there after graduation, do you?"

Her voice rose slightly, carrying a mixture of frustration and contempt.

"I worked so hard to escape that kind of life. Do you know what it was like growing up in a place like that?"

She laughed bitterly, though there was no warmth in it.

"A small town where everyone knows everyone, where opportunities barely exist, where people spend their whole lives trapped in the same routine."

Jessica shook her head firmly.

"No."

Her answer was immediate.

Absolute.

"I finally made it out. I finally have a chance to live in the city, to live better."

Her eyes met his.

"And I’m never going back."

The finality in her tone struck harder than any insult.

Like a door slamming shut.

Lucas stared at her silently.

For a moment, he said nothing.

The anger in his chest slowly faded.

Not because he had calmed down.

But because something else had replaced it.

Emptiness.

The kind that came when disappointment became too heavy to carry.

Three years.

Three entire years.

And somehow, the woman sitting across from him suddenly felt like a stranger.

Then...

A voice came from behind him.

"Well said."

The voice was smooth, confident, carrying a trace of amusement.

"People always strive for higher ground. Water flows downward. Jessica, your choice is absolutely correct."

Lucas’s brows furrowed.

He turned slightly.

A tall young man approached leisurely, one hand tucked casually into his pocket.

He wore expensive branded clothes that looked effortlessly tailored, a luxury watch gleaming faintly beneath the café lights.

His posture was relaxed.

Confident.

The kind of confidence that only came from someone who had never lacked money a single day in his life.

Zack Moss.

The moment Jessica saw him, her entire expression transformed.

"Zack!"

Her coldness vanished instantly.

Like snow melting beneath sunlight.

She stood up so quickly her chair scraped against the floor and hurried to his side, her face softening with visible excitement.

The change was so abrupt.

So natural.

That it almost hurt to watch.

A moment ago, she had looked at Lucas with impatience and disdain.

Now?

Her voice turned gentle.

Her smile sweet.

Even the way she stood beside Zack carried an unconscious dependence.

Lucas slowly clenched his fists beneath the table.

So.

This was it.

Zack Moss.

One of the most famous rich second-generation students at Ashford University.

Rumors said his family owned assets worth tens of millions.

Zack lived the kind of life ordinary students could only imagine.

Girls chased him.

People flattered him.

And he had never once lacked attention.

Now...

He stood here.

Right in front of Lucas.

And seeing Jessica’s expression...

Lucas suddenly understood everything.

The strange distance.

The sudden breakup.

The impossible conditions.

It all made sense now.

His chest tightened.

When he finally spoke, his voice had turned frighteningly cold.

"So..."

He looked directly at Jessica.

"You were already with Zack."

His lips curved bitterly.

"Then what was the point of listing all those ridiculous conditions for me?"

Jessica’s expression stiffened briefly.

Before she could answer, Zack glanced at her, raising an eyebrow.

"Conditions?"

His tone turned curious.

"What conditions?"

Jessica immediately shot Lucas an annoyed glare.

Then, almost instantly, her expression softened again as she turned toward Zack.

"Zack, don’t misunderstand."

Her voice became sweet, almost delicate.

"I know Lucas’s family situation."

She sighed lightly, as though burdened by inconvenience.

"I only gave him conditions he could never meet so he’d give up on his own."

She moved slightly closer to Zack, gently wrapping an arm around his.

"Right now..."

Her voice softened further.

"You’re the only person in my heart."

Lucas felt something twist violently inside his chest.

Not jealousy.

That feeling had already died.

What remained...

Was humiliation.

Pure humiliation.

Three years.

Three years of sacrifice.

Three years of believing they were building a future together.

Reduced to this.

Across from him, Zack’s lips curved upward in satisfaction.

Among the women he had dated, Jessica ranked fairly high.

Good enough to keep around for a while.

As for her past?

He didn’t care.

People like him never cared.

After all, it had taken surprisingly little effort.

One gathering.

A few drinks.

A luxury hotel.

Some expensive gifts.

And subtle displays of wealth.

That was all.

Compared to Lucas, who had spent three years scraping together every spare dollar just to buy Jessica things, Zack had spent more on her in two days than Lucas probably had in years.

Sometimes...

Money really was enough.

Zack smiled faintly before looking toward Lucas.

"Lucas."

His tone sounded relaxed, almost friendly.

"We’re classmates after all."

He spread his hands casually.

"Relationships are based on mutual feelings."

"Since Jessica chose to be with me..."

He paused briefly, smiling.

"You shouldn’t take it too hard."

The words sounded polite.

But the mockery hidden beneath them was impossible to miss.

Lucas didn’t answer.

He simply sat there.

Silent.

Still.

Like something inside him had gone completely numb.

Three years.

Gone.

Just like that.

His efforts.

His sincerity.

His sacrifices.

Had any of it ever mattered?

Or had he simply been a fool from the beginning?

Was this world really that realistic?

Did money truly decide everything?

Then...

A strange mechanical voice suddenly echoed inside his mind.

[Ding! Suitable host detected.]

[Infinite Rebate System binding...]

[30%... 70%... 98%... 100%]

[Binding successful!]

[Ding! Does the host wish to activate the system?]

Lucas froze.

His body stiffened instantly.

The café sounds around him faded.

For a brief second, he wondered if heartbreak had finally driven him insane.

Then...

A thought struck him like lightning.

A system?

His breathing quickened.

As someone who had spent countless nights reading online novels, he knew exactly what this meant.

A protagonist’s golden finger.

A heaven-defying opportunity.

His dead, empty heart suddenly stirred again.

Not fear.

Not confusion.

Hope.

A dangerous kind of excitement burned inside him.

His lips moved slightly.

"...Activate."

[Ding! System activation in progress.]

[Before activation, the host must complete a beginner test.]

[Task: Slap each of the two annoying people in front of you once. Then splash the coffee on the woman’s face.]

[Reward: Official System Activation]

Lucas paused.

Only for a second.

Then...

A cold smile slowly formed on his face.

Honestly?

The system didn’t even need to ask.

He already wanted to do it.

Without hesitation...

He stood up.

SLAP!

The sound exploded through the café.

Sharp.

Loud.

Crisp enough to make nearby customers jump.

Zack’s head snapped violently to the side.

The smug smile vanished from his face instantly.

He staggered half a step, completely stunned.

A thin line of blood slowly appeared at the corner of his mouth.

For several seconds...

Silence.

"...You..."

Zack slowly turned back, disbelief written all over his face.

"You actually dared to hit me?"

His expression twisted rapidly.

Shock.

Humiliation.

Then rage.

Lucas looked at him coldly.

His voice calm.

Dangerously calm.

"You stole my girlfriend."

"And then stood in front of me showing off."

His eyes narrowed.

"Did you really think I wouldn’t dare hit you?"

Jessica finally snapped out of her shock.

"Ah! Zack!"

Her voice rose sharply.

"Your mouth, it’s bleeding!"

She quickly grabbed his arm before suddenly turning toward Lucas.

Her eyes widened with anger and disbelief.

"Lucas!"

"I never thought you were this kind of person!"

Her voice trembled with outrage.

"I must’ve been blind for the past three years to mistake someone like you for a decent man!"

Lucas almost laughed.

Blind?

The irony was laughable.

He said nothing.

Because he hadn’t forgotten something important.

The system’s task.

His gaze slowly shifted.

Toward Jessica.

A faint sneer appeared in his eyes.

This.

Was only the beginning.

One slap remained.

And after that.

The coffee.